Apple Spring Loaded Event Preview - iPad Pro2021, new iMac and more

Apple Spring Loaded Event Preview - iPad Pro2021, new iMac and more

[iPad Pro 2021, AirTags, and maybe even the new iMac for the first time; AirPods 3, Apple Pencil 3, iPad mini 6, and a new Apple TV box are also rumored to be in the works.

Even if all of these new Apple products don't make the bill, it's sure to be a big night of announcements. Judging by the leaked information, the iPad Pro 2021 and AirTags seem most likely.

Everything you need to know about the Apple Spring Loaded event, from the start time and stream details to the product details you'll see, is here.

The Apple "Spring Loaded" event will take place on April 20 at 10am PDT/1pm EDT.

The iPad Pro 2021 is almost certain to be announced at Apple's April event, and many leaks have already given us some idea of what Apple's latest tablet model will look like.

According to MacOtakara, "the chassis design will not change," but we would not be surprised if the bezels are thinner, the speaker holes are reduced, and the camera bump protrudes slightly less.

Rumors suggest that the new iPad Pro will come in 11-inch and 12.9-inch models. Apple may also be preparing to switch from its current LCD display technology to a mini LED screen. This seems to be supported by the latest leaks indicating that the iPad Pro 2021 will be thicker to accommodate the mini-LED technology.

Enhanced internal components are a virtual certainty, as is 5G support, and if Mark Gurman is to be believed, the tablet will feature a processor "equivalent" to the recently released M1 chip in the latest MacBook.

A revamped Magic Keyboard is also reportedly in development, which could appear with the new iPad Pro. Analyst Daniel Ives expects a new mainstream iPad to launch along with the iPad Pro and iPad mini 6.

At this point, it feels like we've been reporting about AirTags for years, but surely this Apple April event should be when Apple finally gives us some official details on the long-in-development accessory.

AirTags, a tracker designed to compete with the likes of Tile Mate, will utilize Bluetooth and Ultra-Wideband technology and a "Find My" app to help users locate misplaced gadgets. In particular, accessory straps for AirTags have also been leaked.

These trackers should sell for less than $50 apiece and could be a lifesaver for IOS users who tend to lose more than just their phones and tablets.

AirTags are indirectly mentioned in iOS 14.5. Now definitely feels like the time we can finally see them properly.

Apple has confirmed that it will discontinue the iMac Pro, but is focusing its efforts on the new iMac 2021, which runs on the Apple Silicon chip.

It's been a while since Apple has significantly updated the iMac, so 2021 is likely to be the year the company finally gives one of its flagship products a thorough refresh.

The iMac's current design has been with us for almost a decade or more, and we expect that the iconic "chin" of the all-in-one computer may finally bite the dust this year.

Rumor has it that it will be designed like the Pro Display XDR and will be priced more affordably. We also hear that the new iMac 2021 could come in five colors, like the recent iPad Air.

It seems possible that Apple may be moving to mini-LEDs with the iMac. And further leaks suggest that the iMac 2021 will feature Cupertino's first desktop-class Apple Silicon chip.

Apple's wireless earbuds have been a huge success since their debut in 2016, and the latest iteration of the popular buds, the AirPods 3, will likely launch in 2021.

According to reports, the AirPods 3 will ditch the traditional design in favor of something closer to the look of the AirPods Pro.

The refreshed earphones are also rumored to pinch active noise cancellation from the Pro model, alongside Dolby Atmos support and spatial audio. However, we will have to wait and see about that.

The AirPods 3 was originally slated for a 2020 release, but according to Korean site The Elec, it now looks likely to launch in the first half of 2021.

However, shiny new designs and new features do not come cheap, and the AirPods 3 price is rumored to rise to $199. This would be a significant price increase from the previous standard price of $159 for the earbuds.

One aspect of the AirPods that we would like to see addressed is the short battery life. Currently, the AirPods last 5 hours on a single charge, which is quite poor compared to the Sony WF-1000XM3 and Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus.

The Apple TV streaming box is another device that could see an update at Apple's April event.

The big change we are expecting is new internal hardware, namely the new A-series chipset, which will make tvOS navigation faster than ever and improve Apple Arcade gameplay. We also hope that rumors of a new, easier-to-use Apple TV remote control, one of the weak points of the Apple TV, will come to fruition.

The iPad Pro may not be the only Apple tablet to be refreshed in 2021; the iPad mini has not been updated since 2019, so its time has certainly come.

Reputable leaker Ming-Chi Kuo claimed last May that the new iPad Mini would be released in 2021, and MacOtakara corroborated this report in January of this year.

No longer a Mini, the latest model is expected to feature an 8.4-inch screen, significantly larger than the iPad Mini 5's 7.9-inch screen; Touch ID and Lightning charging will likely be retained

All information, indicate that the new iPad Mini is an evolution, not a revolution. Rumors that it will mimic the iPad Pro design with slimmer bezels and no home button seem like wishful thinking to us.

.

Categories